Dunnbrowne7833
Formaldehyde (FA) and acetaldehyde (AcH) used as common chemicals in many fields are carcinogenic. The presently reported detection methods usually need expensive instruments, professional technicians, and time-consuming processes, and the detection sensitivity still needs further improvement. Herein, we report a highly effective fluorescence (FL) sensing film for FA and AcH based on naphthalimide derivative-infiltrated responsive SiO2 inverse opal photonic crystals (PCs), establishing a practically multiple-application detection platform for FA and AcH in air, aquatic products, and living cells. Nucleophilic addition products between the amine group of the naphthalimide derivative and aldehydes emit strong FL at ∼550 nm, realizing selective FL detection for FA and AcH. The emitted FL can be enhanced remarkably because of the slow photon effect of PCs, in which the FL wavelength is located at the stopband edge of PCs. A highly sensitive detection for FA and AcH with limits of detection of 10.6 and 7.3 nM, respectively, is achieved, increasing 3 orders of magnitude compared with that in the solution system. Additionally, the interconnected three-dimensional microporous inverse opal structure endows the sensor with a rapid response within 1 min. Furthermore, the as-prepared PC sensor can be reused by simple washing in an acidic aqueous solution. The sensing system can be used as a FL multi-detection platform for FA and AcH in air, aqueous solution, and living cells. This FL sensing approach based on small organic molecule-functionalized PCs is universally available to develop various sensors for target analytes by designing new functional organic compounds.Intelligent systems that offer traceable cancer therapy are highly desirable for precision medicine. Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been approved in the clinic for decades, determining where the tumor is, when to irradiate, and how long to expose to light still confuse the clinicians. Patients are always suffering from the phototoxicity of the photosensitizer in nonmalignant tissues. Herein, an activatable theranostic agent, ZnPc@TPCB nanoparticles (NPs), is prepared by doping a photosensitizer, ZnPc, with an aggregation-induced emission probe, TPCB. The assembled or disassembled ZnPc@TPCB NPs in various phases have behaved differently in fluorescence intensity, photoacoustic (PA) signals, and PDT efficiency. The intact nanoparticles are non-emissive in aqueous media while showing strong PA signals and low PDT efficiency, which can eliminate the phototoxicity and self-monitor their distribution and image the tumors' location. Disassembling of the NPs leads to the release of ZnPc and its red fluorescence turn-on to self-report the photosensitizer's activation. Upon light irradiation, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ZnPc can induce cell apoptosis and activate the ROS sensor, TPCB, which will yield intense orange-red fluorescence and instantly predict the therapeutic effect. Moreover, enhanced PDT efficacy is achieved via the GSH-depleting adjuvant quinone methide produced by the activated TPCB. The well-designed ZnPc@TPCB NPs have shown promising potential for finely controlled PDT with good biosafety and broad application prospects in individual therapy, which may inspire the development of precision medicine.Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have been extensively used in various consumer products and many are classified as persistent organic pollutants due to their resistance to degradation, bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. HFRs have been widely detected in the municipal wastewater and wastewater treatment solids in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the discharge and agricultural application of which represent a primary source of environmental HFRs contamination. This review seeks to provide a current overview on the occurrence, fate, and impacts of HFRs in WWTPs around the globe. We first summarize studies recording the occurrence of representative HFRs in wastewater and wastewater treatment solids, revealing temporal and geographical trends in HFRs distribution. Amcenestrant price Then, the efficiency and mechanism of HFRs removal by biosorption, which is known to be the primary process for HFRs removal from wastewater, during biological wastewater treatment processes, are discussed. Transformation of HFRs via abiotic and biotic processes in laboratory tests and full-scale WWTPs is reviewed with particular emphasis on the transformation pathways and functional microorganisms responsible for HFRs biotransformation. Finally, the potential impacts of HFRs on reactor performance (i.e., nitrogen removal and methanogenesis) and microbiome in bioreactors are discussed. This review aims to advance our understanding of the fate and impacts of HFRs in WWTPs and shed light on important questions warranting further investigation.Fluorophores that respond to external stimuli on demand have numerous applications in imaging and chemical or biological sensing. In this paper, we describe conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) that comprise a donor polymer matrix and a red-fluorescent, singlet oxygen-reactive heteroacene dopant (DE-TMT) that display a ratiometric response upon photo-oxidation. This ratiometric response can be tuned by the level of doping of DE-TMT, the identity of the conjugated polymer matrix used, and the blending of two conjugated polymers together to access red-shifted emission wavelengths. We followed a rational design process that combined (i) fundamental understanding of the influence of the chemical structure on luminescence spectra and efficiencies, energy transfer efficiencies, and reactivity and (ii) systematically determining how blending multiple chromophores in nanoparticles influences energy transfer efficiencies and the speed of optical responses to irradiation. Our approach of refining the compositions of these nanoparticles has yielded materials that combine many desirable characteristics for analytical applications-utility in aqueous environments, high quantum yield, emission of red light, and ratiometric luminescent responses. We anticipate that the type of approach described herein can be of use to others in designing CPNs for luminescence applications.Metal-reducing microorganisms such as Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduce highly soluble species of hexavalent uranyl (U(VI)) to less mobile tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) compounds. The biologically mediated immobilization of U(VI) is being considered for the remediation of U contamination. However, the mechanistic underpinnings of biological U(VI) reduction remain unresolved. It has become clear that a first electron transfer occurs to form pentavalent (U(V)) intermediates, but it has not been definitively established whether a second one-electron transfer can occur or if disproportionation of U(V) is required. Here, we utilize the unusual properties of dpaea2- ((dpaeaH2═bis(pyridyl-6-methyl-2-carboxylate)-ethylamine)), a ligand forming a stable soluble aqueous complex with U(V), and investigate the reduction of U(VI)-dpaea and U(V)-dpaea by S. oneidensis MR-1. We establish U speciation through time by separating U(VI) from U(IV) by ion exchange chromatography and characterize the reaction end-products using U M4-edge high resolution X-ray absorption near-edge structure (HR-XANES) spectroscopy. We document the reduction of solid phase U(VI)-dpaea to aqueous U(V)-dpaea but, most importantly, demonstrate that of U(V)-dpaea to U(IV). This work establishes the potential for biological reduction of U(V) bound to a stabilizing ligand. Thus, further work is warranted to investigate the possible persistence of U(V)-organic complexes followed by their bioreduction in environmental systems.As the need for ever greater transistor density increases, the commensurate decrease in device size approaches the atomic limit, leading to increased energy loss and leakage currents, reducing energy efficiencies. Alternative state variables, such as electronic spin rather than electronic charge, have the potential to enable more energy-efficient and higher performance devices. These spintronic devices require materials capable of efficiently harnessing the electron spin. Here we show robust spin transport in Cd3As2 films up to room temperature. We demonstrate a nonlocal spin valve switch from this material, as well as inverse spin Hall effect measurements yielding spin Hall angles as high as θSH = 1.5 and spin diffusion lengths of 10-40 μm. link2 Long spin-coherence lengths with efficient charge-to-spin conversion rates and coherent spin transport up to room temperature, as we show here in Cd3As2, are enabling steps toward realizing actual spintronic devices.Serotonin type 6 receptor (5-HT6R) has gained particular interest as a promising target for treating cognitive deficits, given the positive effects of its antagonists in a wide range of memory impairment paradigms. Herein, we report on degradation of the 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline scaffold to provide the 2-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide, which is devoid of canonical indole-like skeleton and retains recognition of 5-HT6R. This modification has changed the compound's activity at 5-HT6R-operated signaling pathways from neutral antagonism to inverse agonism. The study identified compound 27 that behaves as an inverse agonist of the 5-HT6R at the Gs and Cdk5 signaling pathways. Compound 27 showed high selectivity and metabolic stability and was brain penetrant. Finally, 27 reversed scopolamine-induced memory decline in the novel object recognition test and exhibited procognitive properties in the attentional set-shifting task in rats. In light of these findings, 27 might be considered for further evaluation as a new cognition-enhancing agent, while 2-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide might be used as a template for designing 5-HT6R inverse agonists.Metallic sodium (Na) has been regarded as one of the most attractive anodes for Na-based rechargeable batteries due to its high specific capacity, low working potential, and high natural abundance. However, several important issues hinder the practical application of the metallic Na anode, including its high reactivity with electrolytes, uncontrolled dendrite growth, and poor processability. Metal nitrates are common electrolyte additives used to stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Na anodes, though they typically suffer from poor solubility in electrolyte solvents. To address these issues, a Na/NaNO3 composite foil electrode was fabricated through a mechanical kneading approach, which featured uniform embedment of NaNO3 in a metallic Na matrix. During the battery cycling, NaNO3 was reduced by metallic Na sustainably, which addressed the issue of low solubility of an SEI stabilizer. Due to the supplemental effect of NaNO3, a stable SEI with NaN x O y and Na3N species was produced, which allowed fast ion transport. As a result, stable electrochemical performance for 600 h was achieved for Na/NaNO3||Na/NaNO3 symmetric cells at a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2 and an areal capacity of 0.5 mAh cm-2. link3 A Na/NaNO3||Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cell with active metallic Na of ∼5 mAh cm-2 at the anode showed stable cycling for 180 cycles. In contrast, a Na||Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cell only displayed less than 80 cycles under the same conditions. Moreover, the processability of the Na/NaNO3 composite foil was also significantly improved due to the introduction of NaNO3, in contrast to the soft and sticky pure metallic Na. Mechanical kneading of soft alkali metals and their corresponding nitrates provides a new strategy for the utilization of anode stabilizers (besides direct addition into electrolytes) to improve their electrochemical performance.